1900

Private trams venture given ‘thumbs down’.

WAS unanimously agreed at a public meeting to oppose the private venture to open a tram system In the town after a pledge from the mayor that the Council would seek powers to run a tramway system Itself - although there seemed some doubt whether there would be a service for the west end of town where people opposed tram tracks on ‘their’ roads, and the mayor admitted he had no love of trams. He did not want to see some of the town’s “best roads being cut up by tramlines," he said. The matter was also debated at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and the company promoting the scheme also held a public meeting. At each meeting it was stated that the proposal was for a light railway of the same gauge as the main lines which meant goods traffic, Including ‘fish offal' might be carried through the streets, stated one councillor! This may explain why there was so much agreement about opposing the private scheme. The Folkestone Express delivered a blistering attack on the Council over failure to back the private tramway venture. It said the company had been treated by the council with scant courtesy and even “vulgar abuse.”

1925

Make road fit memorial to war heroes, urges ‘Felix’.

WRITER Felix was calling for improved care and planting on both sides of the Road of Remembrance to make it a better memorial to the brave heroes it commemorated. It deserved to be made worthy not only of the town but of England and the Empire, he wrote. How things have changed - Felix, writing in the week ending April 18, 1925, recorded that “On Thursday last week no less than 40 express trains (up and down) having to do with continental traffic, passed through the Central Station. Each train was loaded mainly with Easter holidaymakers.” That was fine for Folkestone but Felix was wondering why more of them didn’t stay and explore the beautiful places of England. He went on to speak of the growing number of coastal excursions by coach. Maltby's Ltd, Motors, with garages in Sandgate, Folkestone, Hythe and Canterbury, was advertising a new wonder product for repainting cars. It claimed that It took only a third of the time to apply, its appearance improved with time, it would not scratch, flake or fade, was unaffected by heat, rain, tar, mud, petrol or grease, which could be wiped off with a dry rag. The ‘miracle’ was called a Dupont finish and It cost no more than ordinary paint. Presumably this was cellulose - but were those claims really justified?!!

1950

War damaged harbour property crashes down.

PE0PLE living in the harbour area were awakened In the early hours one morning by a loud crash as the front of a three-storey bombed building in Harbour Street collapsed on to the pavement. Patrolling PC Saunders found tons of rubble across the path and a large unsupported piece of roof in danger of crashing down. Later In the day the road was closed while the building was made safe and adjoining buildings checked for any signs of more danger. One neighbour told how the derelict buildings were a favourite playground for trespassing children who could be In serious danger. Council elections were round the corner and the Herald reported that at least five seats were expected to be contested. Seven of nine retiring councillors were seeking reflection and four remained unopposed in mid-April. Picture feature and ‘Memories' story of the week put the spotlight on the popular Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. The feature traced Its early beginnings as the dreamchild of two young racing motorists, who, as we know were Capt John Howey and Count Zborowski, of Polish extraction, both of whom had a love of steam -and railways. Their dream resulted in the opening of the world’s smallest public railway, linking Hythe and Littlestone. The line was opened by Earl Beauchamp, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, in 1926.

1975

Local depression blamed for Shepway crime wave.

POLICE boost detection rate.... but record crime upsurge hits depressed Shepway. These were the headlines on a Herald front page lead story suggesting declining living standards were forcing more people to turn to crime. Over 2,740 crimes were reported, a massive 25% increase on the previous year. And angry publicans in the district warned that pub violence could snowball unless the magistrates took a tougher line with offenders, as they hit out at leniency in the courts. This followed a £10 fine for an electrician from out of town for maliciously wounding a landlord who tried to throw him out “This £10 is like a parking fine," commented the secretary of the licensed victuallers' association. Some police officers believed the soaring crime rate was due to the fact that Shepway was becoming a depressed area. Unemployment was the second highest in Kent, wages lower than the national average and there was an acute housing problem. Thousands were without a secure home and many living in sub-standard conditions, It was claimed. One officer said “This is the pattern in the coastal strip from Thanet to Shepway.” At the same time the local police cleared up one out of every two crimes to give them the third highest detection rate In the county. Thefts from parked cars rose sharply and arson in unoccupied property gave cause for concern. Vandalism had spread into Romney Marsh.